Day 14

Sunday 31 May 2009

We had decided despite having a calmer night last night that we would move on today. It was our intention to go into Italy and had our route planned and were all set to go. We did the usual packing up and the children went off for one last play in the park before the off. We were just about to go when one of the locals (a group of 4 French families had permanent holiday homes (chalets) on the campsite) stopped us to say goodbye. When we told him we were going to Italy he asked us about our route. He then advised us on the best route to go and told us about the tolls on the tunnels. The Mont Blanc tunnel cost 50 euros for a car and the caravan would probably be the same so 100 euros to get into Italy. Eek! We got in the car, looked at eachother and decided that staying in France suddenly seemed very attractive! We had discussed staying in France anyway so we knew which direction we wanted to head. We put Valence into the Sat Nav and were off. As we drove Katie chose a campsite with a swimming pool (yay!) It is a while since we have driven in France and we were rather shocked at the price of the autoroute. It cost us 32 euros for around 60 miles... it could be expensive to get back home at that rate as we have done over 1500 miles already!! We arrived at what the Sat Nav thought was our destination and it was telling us to drive down a dirt track. We decided that this couldn't be right and carried on along the road a little further to find that the campsite was signposted. The campsite is set off the main road a long way in the middle of several fields of trees where olives, apricots and other fruits are grown. As we drove onto the campsite it was really peaceful and we were able to choose our own pitch so we set up between the toilet block and the swimming pool and reception with apricot trees abounding with fruit for a vista one side and the hills as our view the other. Lovely. Bless him, Dave set too putting up the awning whilst I took the children swimming. The water still wasn't warm but good enough for the boys to get in and have some fun for more than 5 mins. After our swim we came back to dinner which had been cooked in the cook pot the night before and just needed heating through. Lovely not to have to cook after being in the car for a few hours.